College of Engineering Reception

Casual and social, now is the time to introduce family to faculty and to take photos

Expected to conclude by 1:00 p.m.

Rain or Shine, refreshment will be served

An Invitation from the Dean

It is with great pleasure that I invite the family and friends of all our graduating seniors to celebrate with the College of Engineering during the university's festive commencement weekend.

First up is the University Commencement Ceremony, which will take place on Friday, May 10th, at 4:30 p.m at McGuirk Alumni Stadium. This is the official university graduation ceremony, in which degrees are conferred for the entire campus and that proud moment arrives when your senior flips their graduation tassel from right to left. There will be plenty of music and speakers, as well as all the appropriate pomp and circumstance.

But that’s only the beginning of the celebration. The next morning, at 9:00 a.m. in the Recreation Center, the College of Engineering will honor its graduating class in a very special way. The Senior Recognition Celebration is the high point of every graduate's time in the College of Engineering. It’s when our engineering student speaker addresses the class, and every graduate’s name is announced as they cross the stage to be presented with a commemorative medal and to shake hands with their professors, department head, and deans.

This celebration is a special opportunity for administrators and faculty to recognize our amazing students and their families, friends and significant others. We are so proud of all of you for making it to the end of this journey – what an accomplishment! Be sure to join us after the celebration for some food and photographs in the engineering quad outside of Marston Hall.

I sincerely hope we will see you on May 10th and May 11th so that, together, we can celebrate the Class of 2019 as they prepare to embark on a new and exciting chapter of their lives.

Very sincerely,
Christopher V. Hollot, Interim Dean
College of Engineering

FAQ's About Senior Celebration

Who gets to walk?

A student's year of graduation is established by the Registrar's Office. To be eligible to participate in the May 2019 Commencement ceremony, students must have fulfilled all requirements by the time of the ceremony or be scheduled to do so by September 2019. Students scheduled for February 2020 graduation who wish to attend the May 2019 ceremony must file a "Petition to Participate in an Earlier Commencement form," available at the Registrar's Office in 213 Whitmore. If you wish to receive a UMass commemorative medal but are unable to attend the ceremony at which it would be presented contact the University Events Office at commencement@umass.edu or by phone at (413) 577-1101 to ask that your medal be sent to you.

What should participants wear?

Grads and faculty should dress in commencement caps and gowns. Families should dress comfortably. Everyone should wear shoes that are appropriate for walking and climbing stairs.
Caps, gowns, and tassels (the cost of which has already been paid by student fees) may be picked (with student ID) Monday, May 6, 2019 - Thursday, May 9, 2019 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., in Campus Center, Room 165-69.

Where should I park?

Parking will be available on either side of the Recreation Center in Lot 41 and Lot 64 nearest Dickinson Building. Additional parking can be accessed in Lots 45 and 65. To get driving directions to UMass, please click here.

Guests who plan to attend the post-event reception in the engineering quad are encouraged to park in the most northern lots (65, 45, 26, 31) and walk to the Recreation Center to avoid having to move their vehicles after the celebration. Upon exiting the Recreation Center, all cars in lots 41 and 64 must be moved so there are spaces for the next group.

Handicapped parking will be available in the pay-station Lot 64; turn off Commonwealth Avenue to Hicks Way then take two left turns to circle the Parks Band Building. Park in the lot just beyond the northeast corner of the Recreation Center. There is an elevator available in the Recreation Center for those with mobility issues. Any guest that does not have a handicap placard or plate but will be transporting an elderly or disabled guest may sign up for a Reserved Accessible Parking Form (deadline April 19, 2019) which can be used in Lot 26 for the main UMass Commencement on Friday, May 10th and in any handicapped parking spot near any of the senior recognition celebration venues on Friday, May 10th or Saturday, May 11th

Someone in our party is hearing impaired. What should we do?

If you or any of your guests require the services of a sign language interpreter, please contact Disability Services via email at aduchon@admin.umass.edu with “Commencement Interpreter Request” in the subject line. The deadline for requesting interpreter services is April 19, 2019.

For further assistance in attending the Senior Recognition Celebration, Contact Lorraine Robidoux via e-mail, or by phone at (413) 545-6390.
For further assistance in attending the University undergraduate ceremony, visit the University Commencement accessibility website for more information.

Someone in our party has a physical disability. What should we do?

Seating for family members and guests with special needs will be available in a section in the Recreation Center. These seats will be located on the north side of the gym nearest the cafe and lot 64 entrance. They will be in the first row after an access aisle that is approximately two-thirds of the way back from the ceremony stage. Family members, or a companion, may be seated with these guests. Because seats in this venue are all located on a single floor, guests who use a wheelchair, walker or another assistive device often prefer to sit with family members rather than in the designated area. No prior arrangements are necessary, although it is recommended that you arrive early to secure seating. For further assistance in attending the University undergraduate ceremony, visit the University Commencement accessibility website for more information.

I want to watch my graduating senior process. Where should I stand?

Easy: You don't even need to stand up. You will be able to see your graduating senior from your seats when they enter the Recreation Center. Be on the lookout for department/major banner which will precede the entrance of each group. The graduates will be seated, up front, in groups, according to their major program/department, for the duration of the ceremony. You will also see your student on stage, shaking hands with various College officials. Also, the jumbotron will enable you to see "up close."

When and where do we (graduating seniors) meet on the day of the College of Engineering Celebration? How do we line up? Are graduates required to attend a rehearsal?

Graduating Seniors - Students will gather in reserved rooms in the Recreation Center beginning at 8:15 a.m. More information will follow via email. Students should check email often and are advised to update changes of address with the Registrar's Office as soon as possible. If you have any questions regarding the celebration, please feel free to e-mail Lorraine Robidoux. There is no rehearsal. Staff and student marshals will be available to help graduates prepare for the processional. Students should find the room where their major is gathering (signs will be posted throughout the Recreation Center). Look for the sign indicating your major. Then, go to the table to fill out the reader card - complete all information - photographers will use this card to send proofs of pictures taken when you receive your medal. Hold on to this card until it is your turn to cross the stage. You will hand it to the reader as you approach the podium.

Is food available?

A limited menu will be available from the Courtside Cafe at the Recreation Center. The Cafes menu includes breakfast items, grab-n-go sandwiches, wraps, salads and a variety of beverages and smoothies. A full range of dining options is available in The Blue Wall, the food court located on the Campus Center's main level. The Berkshire, Hampshire and Franklin Dining Commons will be open throughout Commencement Weekend. Amherst and the surrounding communities offer a wide array of restaurants.

What happens after the celebration ends?

Students and faculty will leave the room as a group, after which graduates and families should meet quickly for photo ops by the banners and stage. There will be a reception immediately following the celebration in the engineering quad, next to Marston Hall. You may need to move your car as another ceremony is scheduled to take place at the Recreation Center shortly after our event, so it is essential that everyone exit the room promptly.

Where/when is the reception for departments and graduates?

We will be gathering in the engineering quad (rain or shine) by Marston Hall for some refreshments and the opportunity to socialize, take photos, and to introduce faculty, friends, and family. This event will be the most casual and social of the weekend – you may arrive and leave as you please but make sure you are parked in lot 65, 45, 26, 31 while attending. Access to the buildings/bathrooms will be available. We will be on grass, so please bring/change into appropriate footwear. We expect the gathering to last no more than 90 minutes.

Professional Photography

A professional photographer will be at the ceremony. Graduates will be photographed in their regalia prior to and when receiving their medal. Proofs of these photographs will be sent to graduates along with order forms and information.

Diplomas:

Your diploma, which is officially conferred at the Friday evening Commencement, will be mailed to you. To ensure the delivery of diplomas, all graduates should check SPIRE to make certain that their mailing address is accurately recorded. Diplomas are usually mailed by the end of the summer. Questions regarding diplomas should be addressed to: Registrar's Office, 213 Whitmore Administration Building, 413-545-0555.